Men's Health Motion Lodged As Isle Of Wight Faces One Of "Highest" Male Suicide Rates In UK

A motion aiming to improve men’s health outcomes on the Isle of Wight is set to be voted on at County Hall this evening (Wednesday) as the Island faces one of the “highest” rates of male suicide in the UK.

Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Lilley said his submission to full council is to highlight to County Hall health issues faced by men during Movember, a related annual campaigning event involving the growing of moustaches.

The council’s mental health champion told the press of the important work of local charities and support groups for men and referenced a Local Government Association report which says working in partnership is ‘key’ to addressing men’s health, with councils ‘ideally placed’ to ‘foster that’.

Cllr Lilley’s motion says:

“In line with November 2025 National Men’s Health Month, this council resolves to: with the goal of supporting national guidelines, welcome the government’s commitment to National Men’s Health Strategy and respond formally to a call for evidence, highlighting local needs and successful initiatives such as Men Only IOW, Men in Sheds projects and IW Prostrate Cancer Society.

“Encourage Public Health, IW Health and Well-Being Board, and Adult and Social Care and Health Committee to develop a targeted action plan for men’s health, focusing on mental well-being and suicide prevention, early cancer detection, and healthy lifestyle promotion.

“Consider possible allocation in future budgets of resources to support existing and new community-based initiatives that have a proven track record of engaging men in health positive activities such as football based fitness programmes and mental health training for public-facing staff in community settings such as barber shops and cafes.”

The appeal also calls on County Hall to ‘advocate’ for the provision of appropriate sanitary waste disposal bins in workplaces and public toilets to help men manage conditions such as incontinence ‘with dignity’.

In addition and where legally possible, it says the council should ensure all relevant council strategies and services are ‘gender informed’, recognising and dealing with ‘specific barriers’ faced by men in accessing healthcare.

The representative for Ryde Appley and Elmfield said:

“I, like many men, have experienced depression and the reality of prostate cancer and without the amazing work of the IW Prostate Cancer Support group and their PSA tests would not have accessed the help I needed.

“Isle of Wight has one of the highest rates of male suicide in the UK and without the amazing work of Men Only IOW this could be higher.

"Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women and four times less likely to seek help.

“As men we are often too shy to ask for help and that is why men are a priority group on the Island to be encouraged to come forward as there is help there.

"I know as I have been in that position.”

Full council will meet at County Hall at 6pm this evening (Wednesday).